Blog: GE2017 priorities

Acting Director of the Russell Group Dr Tim Bradshaw blogs on what he wants to see from the major political parties at this General Election:

June 2017 is being dubbed the ‘Brexit Election’, but while Brexit does need to be front and centre of the political debate there is a lot more at stake than our future relationship with the EU.

The economy is still affected by the financial crisis of nearly a decade ago, global challenges such as climate change haven’t gone away and, perhaps more than ever, the UK’s long-term prosperity will depend on our ability to innovate, adapt and form new partnerships.

Visiting Bristol recently, I heard the university being described as a ‘portal to the rest of the world’, creating connections, driving inward investment and stimulating growth through the flow of talent and ideas. This story is replicated right across the country: the UK has a world-class higher education system and our leading universities are absolutely central to the economy and society locally, regionally and nationally.

Support for higher education will be crucial if we are to make a success of Brexit and deliver on the goals of the Industrial Strategy.

As the campaign season gets into top gear with officials in party HQs putting the finishing touches to manifestos, here are the Russell Group’s policy priorities for GE 2017: